How the National Anthem should be sung

Wow.... goosebumps, indeed.

I assume you were referring to the actual singing, not the flyby. :)
 
Goosebumps, but it is sad the cheerleader behind #16 doesn't know to hold rt. hand over left chest (or alternately) salute.
 
You're right and it did. I've never heard better.
 
bbchien said:
Goosebumps, but it is sad the cheerleader behind #16 doesn't know to hold rt. hand over left chest (or alternately) salute.
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It always amazes me how inconsiderate adults are during the playing of the National Anthem. Talking, leaving hats on, pretending they don't hear it and keep walking, like Oshkosh! :rolleyes:
 
Hmmm.... I was just thinking that I should use it as a ringtone, then thought it would be pretty disruptive to have the cell phone go off in a meeting and everyone need to stand up! :)

Seriously, that was beautiful!
 
It feels like a lifetime ago but I used to be part of the NASCAR Air Force. It seemed that every weekend it was a new up and coming music act that got face time singing the National Anthem at the start of the race. Some were great and some just plain sucked in the process of ruining an otherwise majestic song. Worst "noodler" ever....Ashanti. The National Anthem does NOT start out with ten seconds of "ooooooooooooyayayayaya".

Lots of great flybys though. Most memorable was the B-1 at fall race in Atlanta getting just a bit too much of the afterburners. That was special!
 
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Fast n' Furious said:
It feels like a lifetime ago but I used to be part of the NASCAR Air Force. It seemed that every weekend it was a new up and coming music act that got face time singing the National Anthem at the start of the race. Some were great and some just plain sucked in the process of ruining an otherwise majestic song. Worst "noodler" ever....Ashanti. The National Anthem does NOT start out with ten seconds of "ooooooooooooyayayayaya".
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Do you know it's a law that the National Anthem should be sung just as it is written and I agree with that law. Those folks that feel they have to put their own twist on it are just wrong and are drawing attention to themselves where the emphasis is supposed to be on the words of the song!@
 
Spectacular! And on the subject, I get so sick and tired of the various stars/starlets who, at national sporting events, drag out our wonderful anthem into a personally-stylistic 2-minute opera of soaring and transitional phrasing, only rendering an exhibit of showboating. Same should stick to his/her rap, R & B, country, whatever; but let Francis Scott Key rest in peace because he didn't intend it to be performed as such.

A University of Michigan "high-stepper" who was one of my band directors once told us that there is some law which requires the composition to be performed at a specific tempo, though I don't remember the specifics. Our resident maestros may have more information.

HR
EDIT: And thank you, wpierce. You were posting while I was typing.
 
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The history behind Francis Scott Key's poem needs to be re-taught too. Too many young people I know have the attitude the National Anthem is too militaristic, and should be changed; little do they know that the rockets and bombs were from a British bombardment against a fort which also housed women and children, if i recall correctly.
 
jshawley said:
The history behind Francis Scott Key's poem needs to be re-taught too. Too many young people I know have the attitude the National Anthem is too militaristic, and should be changed; little do they know that the rockets and bombs were from a British bombardment against a fort which also housed women and children, if i recall correctly.
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They should visit Fort McHenry.
 
wpierce said:
Do you know it's a law that the National Anthem should be sung just as it is written and I agree with that law. Those folks that feel they have to put their own twist on it are just wrong and are drawing attention to themselves where the emphasis is supposed to be on the words of the song!@
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What law would that be? Sounds like an urban myth. I don't find it here:

TITLE 36--PATRIOTIC AND NATIONAL OBSERVANCES, CEREMONIES, AND
ORGANIZATIONS

Subtitle I--Patriotic and National Observances and Ceremonies

Part A--Observances and Ceremonies

CHAPTER 3--NATIONAL ANTHEM, MOTTO, FLORAL EMBLEM \1\ MARCH, AND TREE


Sec. 301. National anthem

(a) Designation.--The composition consisting of the words and music
known as the Star-Spangled Banner is the national anthem.
(b) Conduct During Playing.--During a rendition of the national
anthem--

(1) when the flag is displayed--
(A) all present except those in uniform should stand at
attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart;
(men not in uniform should remove their headdress with
their right hand and hold the headdress at the left shoulder,
the hand being over the heart; and
(C) individuals in uniform should give the military salute
at the first note of the anthem and maintain that position until
the last note; and

(2) when the flag is not displayed, all present should face
toward the music and act in the same manner they would if the flag
were displayed.

(Pub. L. 105-225, Aug. 12, 1998, 112 Stat. 1263.)
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jshawley said:
The history behind Francis Scott Key's poem needs to be re-taught too. Too many young people I know have the attitude the National Anthem is too militaristic, and should be changed; little do they know that the rockets and bombs were from a British bombardment against a fort which also housed women and children, if i recall correctly.
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http://www.wanttaja.com/avlinks/banner.htm

The fort's defenders had plenty of warning that the British were coming. If non-combatants were there, it was by choice.

Ron Wanttaja
 
wpierce said:
Do you know it's a law that the National Anthem should be sung just as it is written and I agree with that law.
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We have a "US flag code" also but that doesn't mean that anyone ever pays attention to it and the more patriotic the times the more it's ignored. Sports teams are the worst offenders along with our own USPS.

EDIT: by the way, the national anthem as performed in the OP's video was not without ad libs.
 
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They did a really good job. But still, as a song, I am not a fan. I would much prefer something like America the Beautiful. Not because the Star Spangled Banner is too militaristic or anything. I don't like it because it truly is an old English drinking song with a klutzy melody.
 
nddons said:
Thank you, Dave. I've never heard it sung any better.

While there is no comparison, I think Jim Cornelison does it as good as any one individual I've ever seen at a sporting event, though as a Chicago Blackhawks season ticket holder, I'm biased. He also sings a fabulous O' Canada:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_nQ-GNdo3E

He's also a gentlemen.

This is kind of interesting too:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFuTFm0EoBM&NR=1
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Wonderful presentation and seems like a very nice individual.

Thanks for posting.

Best,

Dave
 
smigaldi said:
They did a really good job. But still, as a song, I am not a fan. I would much prefer something like America the Beautiful. Not because the Star Spangled Banner is too militaristic or anything. I don't like it because it truly is an old English drinking song with a klutzy melody.
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I like this one...one of my favourite performances thereof too:
 
Can you believe some idiot thought it was a good idea to have Roseanne Barr sing the National Anthem? That idea in itself is a disgrace.
 
Dave Siciliano said:
Wonderful. Nothing like a B-1 (is that correct) for the crescendo!

Best,

Dave
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That there was a B-2...B-1s are a LOT faster and louder!
AIR_B-1B_Extreme_Low_lg.jpg
 
Geico266 said:
It always amazes me how inconsiderate adults are during the playing of the National Anthem. Talking, leaving hats on, pretending they don't hear it and keep walking, like Oshkosh! :rolleyes:
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Does anyone else cringe as much as me when U.S. track athletes grab a flag and wear it like a cape or a towel around their necks for their victory lap? I'd love to run down to the track, fold it properly and hand the triangularly folded flag back to them.
 
Trapper John said:
Melisma...aka soul yodeling. Ugh.


Trapper John
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There's a new word. Here's an old word...."miasma" which generally reflects the contents of a chum bucket or something that burped up from a swamp. Or someone messing with the National Anthem at something like, well, a NASCAR race. Grrrr....
 
TangoWhiskey said:
Can't find a law regarding how it can or can't be sung, but I didn't realize the original had so many more verses:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Star-Spangled_Banner#Lyrics
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Well since I was the original poster about the law... I've searched and I can't find it either. I know that I've heard it said (maybe written) but I can't find anything. Maybe it was a Presidential Proclamation or something.

If I'm wrong, I shouldn't be, there should be a law. It's about what the singer is singing, not about how the singer is singing it.

I've also been known to burn a damaged flag in a screen and burying the ashes. ...Just to let you know where I'm coming from.
 
nddons said:
Does anyone else cringe as much as me when U.S. track athletes grab a flag and wear it like a cape or a towel around their necks for their victory lap? I'd love to run down to the track, fold it properly and hand the triangularly folded flag back to them.
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Yes. Military folks and many other have a different view of the flag. Historically, it held much more meaning. In Korea, if a unit lost it's colors, it was highly disgraceful. Before that, soldiers fought not to have it fall.

I think it's wonderful that folks are patriotic; just wish they knew a bit more about handling the flag. I really gets me if they let it drag on the ground. But, hard to communicate when folks buy ten or twenty little ones to stick around their yard near the 4th of July and just leave them out there.

Best,

Dave
 
wpierce said:
Well since I was the original poster about the law... I've searched and I can't find it either. I know that I've heard it said (maybe written) but I can't find anything. Maybe it was a Presidential Proclamation or something.

If I'm wrong, I shouldn't be, there should be a law. It's about what the singer is singing, not about how the singer is singing it.

I've also been known to burn a damaged flag in a screen and burying the ashes. ...Just to let you know where I'm coming from.
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I just don't know how you'd enforce such a law if it existed. Even in the original post, there was artistic interpretation.

Best,

Dave
 
nddons said:
Does anyone else cringe as much as me when U.S. track athletes grab a flag and wear it like a cape or a towel around their necks for their victory lap? I'd love to run down to the track, fold it properly and hand the triangularly folded flag back to them.
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I don't know, but I do cringe a lot when I see that.

As Mr. Horse would say.

No sir, I don't like it!

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Here is a question that I have wondered about since I lived in England.

First, let us all agree that when it comes to the US flag we offer it the respect it deserves and are comfortable in our flag code, flag customs, and flag use.

So how come in other countries the people, who are equally as patriot as we are, feel that treating their flag as clothing, kitsch, and with what we would consider disrespect ok?
 
smigaldi said:
First, let us all agree that when it comes to the US flag we offer it the respect it deserves and are comfortable in our flag code, flag customs, and flag use.

So how come in other countries the people, who are equally as patriot as we are, feel that treating their flag as clothing, kitsch, and with what we would consider disrespect ok?
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I'm in agreement on respecting the flag but I think people get too hung on on respecting the symbol and not enough on respecting what it stands for and honoring those that risk the ultimate sacrifice to protect those values.
 
I always thought the Star Spangled Banner was a lousy national anthem. Crummy poetry sung to the tune of an old English drinking song, cracks the Brits up pretty good. I always preferred Irving Berlin's God Bless America.
 
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